Prepayment mechanism.



J. B. KAIGHN.

PREPAYMENT MECHANISM- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1910.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESS WW7 W l N V E N TO R: M4015; B/mro/v Ka a/m,

I. B. KAIGHN.

PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 221 I910.

FU- m 2 2, m w H N m w w m 5 w a P v w 4 h Kwmfiwwww xfi m mm g 7 WW EQPN 9, 5 H W INVENTOR:

Jar/n53 BAIR 72w Afl/GH 0.. WASHINGTON D c J. B. KAIGHN.

PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

A-PPUCATION FILEDJUNEZZ. 1 910.

Patented Nov 2, 1915 5 SHEETSSHEET 3 WNN , N V E N TO R I dang-s 54km KQIGHN,

WITNESSES.

1. B. KAIGHN. v

PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 221 I910.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10., WASMINUNN. D. c.

SIATES PATENT FIQE;

PBEPAYMENT MECHANISM.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, JAMES BARTON KAIc-HN, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Prepayment Mechanism, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. i

My invention relates to coin controlled vending machines and is particularly applicable to gason'ieters wherein a rotary coin carrier may be operatively connected by a coin with a valve which may then be manually set in position to deliver a predetermined'quantity of gas. v v

It is the usual practice in constructing a prepayment gasometer to locate the valve controlling the passage of gas through the meter within the casing of the latter, and to locate the prepayment mechanism exterior to said gasometer casing, and, in order to assemble the two devices in cooperative relation various preliminary adjustments are necessary.

The form of my invention hereinafter described is advantageous inthat both the gas controlling valve and the prepayment mechanism are assembled in a single casing or box distinct and primarily separate from the meter casing to which it is subsequently attached, and, in that the same box also includes a receptacle for the coins used in operating the prepayment mechanism.

My invention includes the combination with a valve controlling the passage of gas through the meter, of an externally screw threaded shaft arranged to alternately opcrate said valve in connection with the prepayment mechanism and in connection with the gasometer mechanism; said shaft being axially shifted in one direction to open said valve by operation of the prepayment mechanism, and axially shifted in the opposite direction to close said valve by operation of the meter mechanism, said shaft being prevented from rotating during the opening 'movement of the valve and being rotated during the closing movement of the valve as hereinafter described.

My invention also includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter specified.

In the drawings :Figure I is a-front elevation of a box conveniently. embodying my Specification of Letters latent.

invention, in connection with agasometer.

Patented Nov. 2,1915. Application filed. June 22, 1910. Serial No. 568,283;

plan sectional view, taken on theline V, V

in Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line. VI, VI in Figs. I

andIII. Fig. VII isa vertical sectional View, taken on the line VII, VII in Figs. I and III. Fig. VIII is"aqvertical'sectional View, taken on the line VIII, VIII in Figs. I and III. Fig.- IX is a plan sectional view, tal en on the line IX,"IX in Figs. I, III, VI, VIIand VIII. Fig. X isv a plan sectional view, taken on the line X, X in Fig. VIII.

Fig. XI is a front view of the axially movable screwshaft andits housing removed from the box. Fig. XII is a plan view of the gear housing shown in Figs. Xand XI.

Fig. 1 XIII is a plan sectional view of said.

housing, taken on the line X, X in Fig.

,VIII. Fig. XIV is a plan view of the rotary coin carrier, clutch ring, clutch disk and the exterior handle operatively connected therewith. Fig. XV is a DIEHI'VIGW of the rotary coin carrier. Fig. XVI is a front view of said coin carrier. front view of said clutch ring.

In said figures: 1 is the casing of the gas ometer' containing meter mechanism which may be of any ordinary'construction. The prepayment mechanism box 2 is distinct and primarily separate from said casing'l but is Said conveniently soldered to the latter. box 2'1s provided with the gas inlet tube 3 having the screw thread 4 for connection with a gas supply pipe and leading into the "valve chamber 5 within said box. 7 seat port 6 opens from said valve chamber 5 The valve Fig. XVII is a into the gas chamber 7 within saidbox 2,

having the port 8 openinginto said meter casing l as shown in Fig.V I. 'As indicated in Fig. III said box .2 includes in addition to said valve chamber 5 and gas chamber 7 the gear chamber 9 and coin chamber 10. J

The passage of gas through said port 6 and consequently through the meter is controlled by the valve 12 which as shown in Fig. VI is connected by thepivot 13 with the arm 1% on the rockshaft 15 wh h is j a e l' gastight in the stufling box bearing 16 shown in Fig. IX. Said shaft extends within the gear chamber 9 where it has the yoke 17 engaging the axially movable screw shaft 18 which being mounted for vertical reciprocation in the housing 19, shown in Fig. XI removed from the box, may be raised by the prepayment mechanism to open said valve 12 and lowered by the meter mechanism to close said valve, as hereinafte described.

As shown in Figs. VIII and IX, the valve operating lever yoke 17 overhangs said screw shaft 18, extending in the path of the latter, when said valve 12 is closed; so that when said shaft is raised by the operation of the prepayment mechanism, upon the insertion of a coin, said yoke is thrust aside to immediately open said valve to the extent shown in Fig. 11. Said yoke being then supported in raised position by bearing upon the circumference of said shaft, further upward movement of said shaft, consequent upon the insertion of other coins, does not change the position of said yoke or valve. However, when as the consequence of the dispensation of gas and operation of the meter mechanism, said shaft 18is lowered to its initial position, said lever yoked? is again lowered over the upper end of said shaft 18 permitting said valve 12 to close by its own weight but it is positively forced upon its seat 6 by the overhanging head on said shaft 18 pressing upon the top of said yoke 17.

Said screw shaft 18 extends through the nut gear 20 which is supported by the lower wall 21 of said'housing 19, in engagement with the idle gear 22 also supported by said wall 21 and journaled on the stationary stud shaft 23 as shown in Fig. VII. Said gear 22 has its teeth beveled to engage the bevel gear 25 which is rigidly connected by the screw 26 with the shaft 27 of the coin carrier 28. Said carrier shaft 27 is journaled in the removable housing plate 30 and is prevented from accidental rotation by the triangular plate spring 31 which bears upon said plate 30 and upon the collar 32 which is engaged with said shaft by the pin 34, as shown in Fig. Vii. Said coin carrier 28 has the diametrically opposite projections 35 which as shown in Fig. 111 are recessed to receive a coin, conveniently a silver quarter of a dollar 3?) which may be dropped therein through the coin inlet slot 38 in the wall 39' of said box 2, said wall being a cover for said gear chamber 9, normally rigidly connected with said box, but removable as hereinafter described. Said coin inlet slot 38 registerswith the slot 11 in the circular arc flange 42 of the rotary coin clutch ring 43, which may be freely oscillated upon said plate 30 except when a proper coin 36 is inserted therein as shown in Fig. 1H, such oscillatory movement being only limited by .thea-butment screw 44 projecting from said plate 30 to encounter the opposite ends of said flange 12 As shown in Fig. IV the clutch disk 45 has diametrically opposite projections 46 which when in operative position are arranged to respectively engage the opposite ends of the arc flange 4-.2 shown in Figs. VII and VIII so that rotary movement of said clutch disk 15 effects corresponding rotarv movement of said clutch ring Said clutch disk 45 is operatively connected with the exterior operating handle 17 by the shaft 48; the latter having flattened sides and fitting a similarly shaped opening in said. disk as as indicated in Fig. 1V. Said disk is conveniently retained on said shaft 428 by the screw 50 and washer 51, the latter bearing upon the washer 52 in contact with said disk as shown in Fig. VII.

-Said coin inlet slot 38 is provided with the plane shutter 55, retained in reciprocatory relation with said plate 39 by the screws 56 and washers 57 shown in Figs. 1V and V. As shown in Figs. V and VII said shutter has the coin slot 59 arranged to registerwith the coin inlet slot 38 in the box and the coin slot 41. in said clutch flange =l 2 as shown in Fig. VII to admit a coin to the carrier. Said shutter has the cam lug 36.0 which as shown in Fig. V is inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the handle .et'Z and clutch disk 4-5 and projects within the recesstil of the latter so as to be encountered hy one or the other of the opposite inclined shoulders (32 and 63 of said clutch disk 45, whenever said handle 47 is'turncd ineither direction. Therefore, said shutter is shifted inwardly until its slot 59 is out of registry with said slots 38 and 11 and thus closes said inlet 38, upon rotation of the exterior handle 41'? in the direction indicated b i the arrows'in Figs. 1 and 1V to open the valve 12, and, said shutter is shifted outwardly to the position shown to reopen said inlet when said handle is returned in the op po site direction. It is to be understood that when a coin 36 is dropped through said alined slots 38, 59 and 4:1 into the position shown in Fig. HI it operatively connects the clutch flange 42 with the carrier 28 so that when the handle 17 is turned in the direction of the arrows in Figs. I, III and IV, said coin slot 38 is first closed by the shutter 55 as above described, and said carrier is then turned with the gear 25' shown in Fig. VII engaging the gear 22, thus turning the nut gear 20 and raising the screw shaft 18 therethrough so as to uplift the yoke 17, rock the shaft 15 and open the valve 12 from the position shown in full lines inFig. HI to the position shown in'dotted lines in Fig. 11. Each rotary movement of said carrier 23 is limited to approximately one-half revolution by the abutmenta l which is then encountcre dby the end of the clutch flange shownlat the left'handsideofxFigIlll, and,

the carrier; the latter remaining stationary, Said. guard;

during such reverse rotation. flange prevents the coin 36 from being carried back by the clutch, and it falls through the slot 68 into the coin chamber 10 where it is received. in the till 70 which is conveniently constructed so as to be readily removed from the box as hereinafter de scribed. Other coins 36 may be successively inserted in the inlet 38, and the operation of said exterior handle 47 repeated as above described until the shaft 18 has been raised to the limit of its movement, sliding past said yoke 17.

I find it convenient to provide saidshaft 18 with an index finger 71 which as shown in Figs. I and IX extends through the notch 72 in the edge of the cover plate 39; being visible exterior to the box 2 in conjunction with'suitable graduations upon the adjacent wall 73 of the box 2, to indicate the quantity of gas for which prepayment is made. As shown in Fig. VIII said index 71 is swiveled in the head 74: which is rigidly connected with the screw shaft 18 which is free to rotate with respect to said index, the latter being confined by said plate 39.

Said valve 12 being manually opened by the operation of the prepayment mechanism as above described is automatically closed, after delivery of the quantity of gas predetermined by the number of coins inserted, by the meter mechanism within the casing 1; including the gear wheel 75 on the meter shaft 76. It is to be understood that said shaft which is shown broken in Fig.

VII may be of any desired length to carry the gear 75 within the meter casing 1, in

operative relation with the meter mecha-.

nism. Said shaft 76 extends from said casing 1, through the gas tight stufhng boX bearlng 7 7 into the gear chamber 9 of said box 2 and has the worm 78 engaging the gear 79 on the vertical shaft 80 which is mounted to rotate in the bearing standard 81 on the top wall 82 of the housing 19. Said shaft is provided beneath said wall 82 with the price change gear 83,.

which as shown in Fig.'XI, is" rigidly but detachably connected therewith by the s'crew8t and washer 8.5, the end of said shaft being squared as indicated in Fig. X. Said change gear 83 engages the ldle gear 86 which is mounted on the stud shaft 87 removably secured'in said wall 82 by the nut 88 as shown in Figs. VII and X. Said gear 86 engages the gear 89 having the key 90 fitted in the keywa-y 91 of said screw shaft 18; said gear 89 being upheld by the sleeve 92 as best shown in Fig. VIII. .It is to be understood that when said meter gear 75 is rotated in the direction of the arrow marked thereon 1n Fig. VIII said keyed gear 89 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. X and turns the screw shaft 18 so that the latter is lowe'redthrough the nut gear 20 and consequently lowers the yoke 17 and permits the valve to close the I port 6 when the full quantity of gas for which prepaymenthas been made has been delivered through the meter. Said housing wall 82 is provided with several sockets93 in which the stud shaft 87 may be seleo v tlvelv fitted, so that said idle gear 86 may beplaced in different positions to engage price change gears 83 of different sizes, determined by the prices of the gas which is to be dispensed. That is to say, the gear 83 shown in Fig. X being for gas of the minimum price, if gas more expensive is to be dispensed a larger change gear 83 would be substituted so as to turn the screw shaft 18 more rapidly andvefl'ect the closure of the valve 12 by the passage of less gas than would, occasion the closure of said valve with the price change gear of the size shown in Fig. X. In this connection it may 7 be observed; that the lower wall 21 of the housing 24 has the opening 95 through which a screw driver may be inserted to remove the screw 84, release the gear 83 and permit the changes above contemplated, {)vithout removing the housing 24: from the Said till 70 is rigidly engaged in removable relation with the box2, conveniently as follows :As indicated in dotted lines in Fig. III, and elsewhere in full lines the stationary stud 96 which projects inwardly from the right hand wall of the box-2 fits the socket 97 in the till 70, and the latter is provided with the lock 98 having the spring pressed bolt 99 which when in the locked position as shown in Fig. I engages the ledge 100 in said box 2. It isto be understood that said lock bolt 99 lmay be withdrawn by a key inserted in the lock nose 101 and that thereupon said till may be removed by swinging its left hand end downward and thus disengaging the right hand end from said stud96. tion above described is such that said till 70 is not only wholly concealed, in the normal position of the gasometer, but prevents access to the mechanism in the box. However, removal of said till affords access to gear chamber 9 is normally'rigidly secured.

in said box 2 atitsupper end by the sta The construcr se;-

tionary stud 103 which projects inwardly from the upper wall of said box and fits the socket 10a in said cover; and, the lower end of said cover is rigidly connected with said box 2, bv the screws 105, indicated in Fig. VII, which engage in the holes 106 in said cover indicated in Fig. 1V and are accessible for removal with a screw driver inserted in said coin chamber 10 when said till 'ZO is removed from the box. Moreover, it may be observed that all of the gearing of the prepayment mechanism may be readily removed from the box 2 with the housing 19; the latter being normally rigidly secured in said box by the screws 107 shown in Fi HI and Vlll, which extend through the holes 108 shown in Fig. XI and engage in holes in the box.

I do not desire to limit myseli to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departingt'rcm the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A prepayment mechanism box inclosing a valve chamber, a gear chamber and a coin chamber; a stud in said gear chamber; a stud in said coin chamber; a removable cover for said gear chamber having a socket fitted to said stud therein; a screw engaging said cover Within said coin chamber; a removable till in said coin chamber having a socket fitted to said stud therein, and a lock engaging said box.

2. A prepayment mechanism box inclosing a gear chamber and a coin chamber; a stud in said gear chamber; a stud in said coin chamber; a removable cover for said gear chamber having a socket fittedto said stud therein; a screw engaging said cover within said coin chamber; and, a removable till in said coin chamber.

3. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a coin inlet slot; of a rotary coin carrier in said box; an exterior operating handle on said box, having means within said box arranged to engage a coin in said carrier to operate the latter; a reciprocatory plane shutter arranged to control said inlet; and means positively operatively connecting said shutter with said exterior handle, including a rotary clutch element having its axis extending in the direction of movement of said shutter; whereby said inlet is closed when said handle is turned in one direction and opened when said handle is turned in the opposite dired tion.

1. In prepayment mechanism, thecombination with a box having a coin inlet slot;

of an exterior operating handle on said box; a reciprocatory plane shutter arranged to control said inlet; and means positively operatively connecting said shutter with said exterior handle for movement in two oppo site directions; whereby said inlet is closed when said handle is turned in one direction and opened when said handle is turned in the opposite direction.

5. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a coin inlet slot; of an exterioroperating handle on said box; a reciprccatory plane shutter arranged to control said inlet, having a cam lug inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of said handle; and, a clutch disk connected to said handle, having a recess in registry with said cam lug and opposite inclined shoulders, whereby said inlet is closed when said handle is turned in one direction and opened when said handle is turned in the opposite direction. I 6. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with avbox having a coin inlet slot; of an exterior operating handle on said box; a reciprocatory plane shutter arranged to control said inlet, having a cam lug inclined with respect to the'axis of rotation of said handle; and, a clutch disk connected to said handle and to said shutter; whereby said inlet is closed when said handle is turned in one direction and opened when said handle is turned in the opposite direction. a

7. In prepayment mechanism, the combi nation with a box having a coin inlet slot; of an exterior operating handle on said box;

a plane shutter arranged to reciprocate axially with respect to said handle to control said inlet; and, a clutch disk connected to said handle and to said shutter; whereby said inlet is closed when said handle is turned in one direction and opened when said handle is turned in the opposite direct-ion.

8. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box; of a rotary coin carrier in said box; an exterior operating handle on said box connected with means within said box arranged to engage a coin in said carrier to operate the latter, including a clutch disk having diametrically opposite projections, and, a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier, having an arc flange with a coin slot; the opposite ends of said flange being respectively engaged by the projections on said disk.

9. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a removable cover; of a rotary coin carrier in said box; an exterior operating handle on said box carried by said cover and connected with means within said box arranged to engage a coin in said carrier to operate the latter, including a clutch disk carried by said cover and havingdiametrically opposite projections, and a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier, engaged by the projections on said k nd m ns in sa d ox re g said ring independently of said cover; whereby said cover may be removed with said disk without displacing said rin 10. In prepayment mechanism, thelcombination with a box having a' removable cover; of a rotary coin carrier in said box;'an exterior operating handle on said box connected with means within said box arranged" to engagea coin in said carriertooperate the latter, including a clutch disk, carried by and removable with said cover, engaging a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier; and means retaining said ring in said box, independently of said cover.

11. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a rotary coin carrier having diametrically opposite projections with recesses to receive a coin extending transversely with respect to the axis ofthe carrier; of a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier, having an arc flange with a coin slot adapted to register with the recesses in said projections; an operating handle; and a clutch element rigidly connected with said handle, arranged for adjustable connection with said clutch ring, independently of said carrier; whereby said clutch ring and carrier may be operativelv connected by a coin engaged at its periphery in said recesses, projecting in the slot in said flange and engaged at its periphery in the latter.

12. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a rotary coin carrier having relatively stationary projections with recesses to receite a coin extending from one projection to the other transversely with respect to the axis of the carrier; of a clutch ring rotatable. with respect to said carrier, having an arc flange with a coin slot adapted to register with the recesses in said projections: whereby said clutch ring and carrier may be operatively connected by a coin engaged at its periphery'in said recesses, pro jecting in the slot in said flange and engaged at its periphery in the latter.

13. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a rotary coin carrier having a shaft, and diametrically opposite projections with'recesses to hold a coin extending in a plane transversely with respect to the axis of said shaft; of a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier and having an arc flanged with a slot adapted to register with said recesses; and, a clutch disk having projections arranged to respectively encounter the opposite ends of said are flange; whereby said disk and ring are continuously engaged for rotary movement independently of said carrier, and said carrier may be rotatably connected therewith by the peripheral engagement of a coin in said slot and recesses.

14. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a rotary coin carrier having a shaft, and recesses to hold a coin extending in a plane transverselywith respect to the axis of said shaft; of a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier and having an arc'flange with a slot adapted to register with said recesses; and, a clutch disk having projections arranged to respectively encounter the opposite ends of said are flange; wherebysaid disk and ring are continuously engaged for rotary movement independently of said carrier and said carrier may be rotatably connected therewith bythe periph eral engagement of a coin in said slot and recesses. v

15. In prepayment mechanism, the combination'with a rotary coin carrier having a shaft, and recesses to hold a coin extending in a plane transversely with respect to the, axis of said shaft; of a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier and having an arc flange with a slot adapted to register with said recesses; and, a clutch disk engaging said ring; whereby said disk and ring are continuously engaged for rotary movement independently of said carrier, and said carrier may be rotatably connected therewith by the peripheral engagement of a coin in said slot and recesses.

16. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a coin inlet slot;

of an exterior operating handle on said box; a clutch disk in said box rotatably engaged by said handle and having diametrically opposite projections; a clutch ring mounted to turn upon the axis of said handle, having an arc flange with a slot adapted to register with the slot in said box, and having its opposite ends engaged by said projections on said disk.

17. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a coin'inlet slot; of a clutch ring having an arc flange with a slot adapted to register with the slot in said box; a clutch disk having projections respectively arranged to engage the opposite ends of said are flange; and, a handle exterior to saidbox operatively connected with said clutch ring.

18. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a removable cover including a coin inlet slot; of a rotary coin carrier in said box having its axis of rota-. tion at right angles to the length of said slot; an exterior operating handle on said box carried by said cover and detachably connected with means within said box arranged to engage a coin'in said carrier extending in a plane at right angles to the axis of said carrier to operate the latter, whereby said cover may be removed with said handle, independently of said carrier.

19. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a-coin inlet slot; of an exterior operating handle on said box; a plane shutter arranged to reciprocate in aplane in contact with said box and axially With respect to said handle to open and close said slot; and, means operatively connecting said shutter with said exterior handle; whereby said slot is closed When said handle is turned in one direction and opened When said handle is turned in the opposite vdirec- 20, A. prepaymentmechanism box inclosing a gear chamber; a stud in said gear chamber; a removable cover for said gear chamber having a socket fitted to said stud therein; and, a screw engaging said cover Within said box.

21. In prepayment mechanism, the combination with a box having a cover; of a rotary coin carrier having a shaft mounted for rotation in said box, and recesses to hold a coin extending in a plane transversely with respect to the axis of said shaft; a clutch ring rotatable with respect to said carrier and having an arc flange With a slot adapted to register With said recesses; a clutch disk, carried by said cover, engaging said ring; and, means preventing relative movement of said clutch disk and ring; whereby said disk and ring are continuously engaged for rotary movement together, When assembled, but may be axially separated,only when said cover is removed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 18th day of June, 1910.

4 JAMES BARTON KAIGHN.

Witnesses:

Lonrs A. CARON, Lotus A. NICKERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lommissioner of Patents, Washington, I), C. 

